Self-cleaning retractable partition apparatus

Abstract

A self-cleaning retractable partition apparatus includes a tower assembly defining an interior area, and a primary ultraviolet light mounted to bottom and top walls thereof operable to illuminate the interior area. A partition assembly in the tower assembly includes a reel and a flexible panel movable between coiled and uncoiled configurations wrapped about the reel. A mobile base is unconnected to a bottom wall of the tower assembly is movable between a stowed configuration proximate the tower assembly and a deployed configuration positioned away from the tower assembly and includes a grip member coupled to the leading edge of the panel. The partition apparatus includes a guide assembly having an upper guide member complementary to the upper fastener and operable for engaging the upper fastener, the upper guide member including a plurality of spacer segments each having a metallic core and being operable to maintain an angled configuration.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A self-cleaning retractable partition apparatus, comprising:
 a tower assembly having a bottom wall and a top wall opposite said bottom wall and a plurality of side walls extending between said bottom and top walls that, together, define an interior area, said plurality of side walls including a front wall defining a slot allowing access to said interior area; 
 a primary ultraviolet light mounted to one of said bottom wall or said top wall operable to illuminate said interior area when energized; 
 a partition assembly having a reel member extending upwardly from said bottom wall of said tower assembly and a panel having an inner edge coupled to said reel member and a leading edge opposite said inner edge, said panel having a flexible construction movable between a coiled configuration wrapped about said reel member and an uncoiled configuration extending away from said reel member; 
 a mobile base unconnected to said bottom wall of said tower assembly and movable between a stowed configuration proximate said tower assembly and a deployed configuration positioned away from said tower assembly and having a grip member extending upwardly from said mobile base and coupled to said leading edge of said panel. 
 
     
     
       2. The self-cleaning retractable partition apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said front wall of said tower assembly defines a slot having an upper end proximate said top wall that is closed and a lower end opposite said upper end that is open, said slot having a width operable for receiving panel into said interior area of said tower assembly. 
     
     
       3. The self-cleaning retractable partition apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said plurality of side walls of said tower assembly includes a back wall opposite said front wall that is operable for suspending said tower assembly above a floor surface such that said bottom wall is displaced from said floor surface; 
 said base assembly is positioned immediately beneath said bottom wall of said tower assembly when in said stowed configuration. 
 
     
     
       4. The self-cleaning retractable partition apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said primary ultraviolet light includes a pair of primary ultraviolet lights coupled to a bottom side of said top wall and a top side of said bottom wall, respectively, said pair of primary ultraviolet lights being directed to illuminate said interior area when energized. 
     
     
       5. The self-cleaning retractable partition apparatus as in  claim 4 , further comprising a pair of auxiliary ultraviolet lights coupled to a pair of interior surfaces of a pair of said plurality of side walls, respectively, and operably directed to illuminate said interior area when energized. 
     
     
       6. The self-cleaning retractable partition apparatus as in  claim 5 , wherein said primary ultraviolet light and said pair of auxiliary ultraviolet lights is electrically connected to an electrical power source. 
     
     
       7. The self-cleaning retractable partition apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said mobile base includes a plurality of wheels operable for moving said mobile base from said stowed configuration to said deployed configuration. 
     
     
       8. The self-cleaning retractable partition apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said grip member of said mobile base includes a handle operable for a user to grasp and pull said base member toward said deployed configuration. 
     
     
       9. The self-cleaning retractable partition apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a control module positioned on an exterior surface of said front wall of said tower assembly, said control module electrically connected to said primary ultraviolet light and operable to receive input commands from a user and to energize said primary ultraviolet light. 
     
     
       10. The self-cleaning retractable partition apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said reel member includes a rod having a cylindrical configuration and is mounted in an axial arrangement extending between said bottom wall and said top wall of said tower assembly; 
 said reel member includes a ratchet-pawl spring assembly having a ratchet gear that is rotated stepwise when said partition assembly is moved toward said deployed configuration and a pawl maintains said rotation, respectively, and having a spring operable to return said mobile base assembly to said stowed configuration when said pawl is released from said ratchet gear. 
 
     
     
       11. The self-cleaning retractable partition apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said panel includes a top edge extending between said inner edge and said leading edge, respectively, said top edge having an upper fastener extending along an entire extent of said top edge, said self-cleaning retractable partition apparatus further comprising:
 a guide assembly that includes an upper guide member having a configuration complementary to said upper fastener and operable for selectively engaging said upper fastener; 
 wherein said upper guide member includes a plurality of spacer segments each having a metallic core and operable to maintain an angled configuration. 
 
     
     
       12. The self-cleaning retractable partition apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein:
 said upper guide member includes a first end having a first guide rail releasably coupled to said grip member of said tower assembly. 
 
     
     
       13. A self-cleaning retractable partition apparatus, comprising:
 a tower assembly having a bottom wall and a top wall opposite said bottom wall and a plurality of side walls extending between said bottom and top walls that, together, define an interior area, said plurality of side walls including a front wall defining a slot having an upper end proximate said top wall that is closed and a lower end opposite said upper end that is open, said slot having a width operable for receiving panel into said interior area of said tower assembly; 
 a primary ultraviolet light mounted to one of said bottom wall or said top wall operable to illuminate said interior area when energized; 
 a partition assembly having a reel member extending upwardly from said bottom wall of said tower assembly and a panel having an inner edge coupled to said reel member and a leading edge opposite said inner edge, said panel having a flexible construction movable between a coiled configuration wrapped about said reel member and an uncoiled configuration extending away from said reel member; 
 wherein said panel includes a top edge extending between said inner edge and said leading edge, respectively, said top edge having an upper fastener extending along an entire extent of said top edge; 
 a mobile base unconnected to said bottom wall of said tower assembly and movable between a stowed configuration proximate said tower assembly and a deployed configuration positioned away from said tower assembly and having a grip member extending upwardly from said mobile base and coupled to said leading edge of said panel; 
 a guide assembly that includes an upper guide member having a configuration complementary to said upper fastener and operable for selectively engaging said upper fastener; 
 wherein said upper guide member includes a plurality of spacer segments each having a metallic core and being operable to maintain an angled configuration; 
 wherein said upper guide member includes a first end having a first guide rail releasably coupled to said grip member of said tower assembly. 
 
     
     
       14. The self-cleaning retractable partition apparatus as in  claim 13 , wherein:
 said plurality of side walls of said tower assembly includes a back wall opposite said front wall that is operable for suspending said tower assembly above a floor surface such that said bottom wall is displaced from said floor surface; 
 said base assembly is positioned immediately beneath said bottom wall of said tower assembly when in said stowed configuration. 
 
     
     
       15. The self-cleaning retractable partition apparatus as in  claim 13 , wherein said primary ultraviolet light includes a pair of primary ultraviolet lights coupled to a bottom side of said top wall and a top side of said bottom wall, respectively, said pair of primary ultraviolet lights being directed to illuminate said interior area when energized. 
     
     
       16. The self-cleaning retractable partition apparatus as in  claim 15 , further comprising a pair of auxiliary ultraviolet lights coupled to a pair of interior surfaces of a pair of said plurality of side walls, respectively, and operably directed to illuminate said interior area when energized. 
     
     
       17. The self-cleaning retractable partition apparatus as in  claim 13 , wherein said mobile base includes a plurality of wheels operable for moving said mobile base from said stowed configuration to said deployed configuration. 
     
     
       18. The self-cleaning retractable partition apparatus as in  claim 13 , wherein said grip member of said mobile base includes a handle operable for a user to grasp and pull said base member toward said deployed configuration. 
     
     
       19. The self-cleaning retractable partition apparatus as in  claim 13 , further comprising a control module positioned on an exterior surface of said front wall of said tower assembly, said control module being electrically connected to said primary ultraviolet light and operable to receive input commands from a user and to energize said primary ultraviolet light. 
     
     
       20. The self-cleaning retractable partition apparatus as in  claim 13 , wherein:
 said reel member includes a rod having a cylindrical configuration and is mounted in an axial arrangement extending between said bottom wall and said top wall of said tower assembly; 
 said reel member includes a ratchet-pawl spring assembly having a ratchet gear that is rotated stepwise when said partition assembly is moved toward said deployed configuration and a pawl maintains said rotation, respectively, and having a spring operable to return said mobile base assembly to said stowed configuration when said pawl is released from said ratchet gear.